Just checked the flight manual, no "per pylon" max ratings indicated. Just states the various F-15 stores configuration of which the heaviest is the 4+k lb 600 gal tanks (5k with the BRU-47). What I do know is that the BRU-46 /47 bomb racks are only rated up to (and including) 5,000 lbs (GBU-28). Including the SUU, that's maybe 5400+ lbs. That means either the Israelis have developed a stronger rack which appears to be the case, the BRU-46/47 is not maximising F-15 potential or the missile is 5k lbs or below. Won't be surprised if its a specially modified F-15 e.g. wth another screw to hang the extra weight.

weasel1962 wrote:Just checked the flight manual, no "per pylon" max ratings indicated. Just states the various F-15 stores configuration of which the heaviest is the 4+k lb 600 gal tanks (5k with the BRU-47). What I do know is that the BRU-46 /47 bomb racks are only rated up to (and including) 5,000 lbs (GBU-28). Including the SUU, that's maybe 5400+ lbs. That means either the Israelis have developed a stronger rack which appears to be the case, the BRU-46/47 is not maximising F-15 potential or the missile is 5k lbs or below. Won't be surprised if its a specially modified F-15 e.g. wth another screw to hang the extra weight.

Or they may just be operating with g limits (or other limitations) while carrying the target. I can't imagine they're going to engage in a lot of hard maneuvering on a target launch mission; it should be a (relatively) benign profile compared to ACM.

weasel1962 wrote:Just checked the flight manual, no "per pylon" max ratings indicated. Just states the various F-15 stores configuration of which the heaviest is the 4+k lb 600 gal tanks (5k with the BRU-47). What I do know is that the BRU-46 /47 bomb racks are only rated up to (and including) 5,000 lbs (GBU-28). Including the SUU, that's maybe 5400+ lbs. That means either the Israelis have developed a stronger rack which appears to be the case, the BRU-46/47 is not maximising F-15 potential or the missile is 5k lbs or below. Won't be surprised if its a specially modified F-15 e.g. wth another screw to hang the extra weight.

Or they may just be operating with g limits (or other limitations) while carrying the target. I can't imagine they're going to engage in a lot of hard maneuvering on a target launch mission; it should be a (relatively) benign profile compared to ACM.

gtg947h wrote:Or they may just be operating with g limits (or other limitations) while carrying the target. I can't imagine they're going to engage in a lot of hard maneuvering on a target launch mission; it should be a (relatively) benign profile compared to ACM.

Is the rating value for each station is the maximum value that station can carry in level flight or very slight maneuver like 1.5G?

weasel1962 wrote:.That means either the Israelis have developed a stronger rack which appears to be the case, the BRU-46/47 is not maximising F-15 potential or the missile is 5k lbs or below. Won't be surprised if its a specially modified F-15 e.g. wth another screw to hang the extra weight.

A normal F-15D was used as far as i know.Black Sparrow and Blue Sparrow both lighter than 5000 lbs, but silver sparrow is 6900 lbs.Silver and Blue sparrow have similar shell so iam not 100% sure which one the F-15 carry here

gtg947h wrote:Or they may just be operating with g limits (or other limitations) while carrying the target. I can't imagine they're going to engage in a lot of hard maneuvering on a target launch mission; it should be a (relatively) benign profile compared to ACM.

Is the rating value for each station is the maximum value that station can carry in level flight or very slight maneuver like 1.5G?

The rating is typically a maximum nominal 1G load. So that 5000lb station may be able to carry that 5000lb at 9G, or at some reduced number (see F-16 limits for AG stores). On an F-15, I think the aircraft can go to full G limits (9?) with the tanks, though I could well be wrong. Assuming that's true (and assuming a tank is 5000lb), BotE says a 6900lb load would be limited to roughly 6.5G.

In either case, there will be a full engineering analysis done before carrying something like this that could tell you what your limits would be. The store itself might well have a limit, too, and that could be lower than what the aircraft structure could take.

Of course, there's a whole lot that goes into determining maximum loads. Johnwill could answer better than me as he did this stuff directly and I'm just on the periphery (I'm a systems guy, not structures/stress; I only sit next to those guys, and the airplanes I work on don't have external stores). But there's a whole lot more to it than just weight of the store and G limits. Aero loads, maneuvers, landing loads, asymmetric conditions, flutter, hung stores, taxi, and more can all wind up being a limiting case.

gtg947h wrote:The rating is typically a maximum nominal 1G load. So that 5000lb station may be able to carry that 5000lb at 9G, or at some reduced number (see F-16 limits for AG stores). On an F-15, I think the aircraft can go to full G limits (9?) with the tanks, though I could well be wrong. Assuming that's true (and assuming a tank is 5000lb), BotE says a 6900lb load would be limited to roughly 6.5g

gtg947h wrote:The rating is typically a maximum nominal 1G load. So that 5000lb station may be able to carry that 5000lb at 9G, or at some reduced number (see F-16 limits for AG stores). On an F-15, I think the aircraft can go to full G limits (9?) with the tanks, though I could well be wrong. Assuming that's true (and assuming a tank is 5000lb), BotE says a 6900lb load would be limited to roughly 6.5G.

In either case, there will be a full engineering analysis done before carrying something like this that could tell you what your limits would be. The store itself might well have a limit, too, and that could be lower than what the aircraft structure could take.

Of course, there's a whole lot that goes into determining maximum loads. Johnwill could answer better than me as he did this stuff directly and I'm just on the periphery (I'm a systems guy, not structures/stress; I only sit next to those guys, and the airplanes I work on don't have external stores). But there's a whole lot more to it than just weight of the store and G limits. Aero loads, maneuvers, landing loads, asymmetric conditions, flutter, hung stores, taxi, and more can all wind up being a limiting case.

gtg947h covered it very well. All I would add to the limiting conditions are ejection, arrestment and catapult. Other day to day factors that could limit loadings are runway length, temperature, altitude, brake energy, max gross weight, and so on. It's not rocket science, but it does require a lot of work to clear store loadings and determine the flight limits.